(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - In addition to having filed a Declaration of Impasse between the City’s Teachers Union and the Buffalo School District, the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) has filed an Improper Practice Charge with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) for the District’s alleged failure to bargain in good faith.

"We’ve attempted to begin negotiations since (April 2nd, 2019) - yet, the District ‘has not even responded with a date to complete negotiations on the ground rules and exchange contract proposals,’” BTF President Phil Rumore said. “At our first meeting (on April 2nd), the District ‘unequivocally and adamantly refused to consider a critical ground rule establishing negotiating sessions’ that states: ‘The parties will schedule, in advance, a minimum of two tentative negotiating sessions with agreed time limits.’"

Since April 2nd, 2019, the BTF has attempted to resume negotiations, Rumore said, but “incredibly, in response to our (August 12th, 2019) request to resume negotiations, we, on (August 15th), were informed by Nate Kuzma - the District’s General Counsel and negotiations spokesperson: ‘Please let Phil know that we have a couple of team members out on vacation until early next week.  Once they return, I will discuss the dates with them and respond to Phil.’"

"As of today (August 27th), we still have no suggested dates.  They have had since (April 2nd) to coordinate dates for negotiations,” Rumore said.　

To View The BTF’s Improper Practice Charge, Go To: www.btfny.org/mail/images/ip_charge.pdf